I haven’t always been about simple living. I’m guilty of being swept up in the more is more mindset; blogging, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter … social media in general mostly encourages the procuring of ‘stuff’, especially the trendiest things for yourself, your home, and your kids. So many pretty things out there, aren’t there? A sweep through my Instagram feed, and it’s hard not to get the itch to spend money.
I grew up fairly simply, I think. We had one TV, one telephone, and we were pretty late to the internet, and microwave parties (and then we only used the microwave for popcorn). High school is the point at which I remember my mindset changing. I wanted things. More things. I wanted to get my nails done, have a pretty tan, carry the newest Vera Bradley patterns (this was North Carolina), wear oversized pearl studs in my ears, and show off the latest David Yurman jewelry after Christmastime.
This mindset didn’t change much through college, or my early 20s. I wasn’t a ridiculous shopaholic, and I didn’t get myself into unnecessary debt, but I still wanted. Other than the recession, the number one thing that changed my mindset was becoming a mother. All of the sudden the responsibility of how another human grows up falls an awful lot on my shoulders. Like most parents, I want my daughter to be kind and understanding, respectful and tolerant. Focused on activities and memories and togetherness, not things.
Frankly, I’m not interested in going off the grid. We have a modest fruit and vegetable garden, which I’d like to add to, but picking feathers out of chickens isn’t on my want-to-do list. We have certainly gone without cable, and are thinking about doing so again, but we enjoy movies and staying current on our favorite TV shows. I like pretty things, and while I haven’t stopped indulging altogether, I rarely make new purchases anymore, as I try to focus on making use of the things I already have. These ideas aren’t new or mind-blowing, but often the simplest things are the most difficult, and this is one aspect of life I find myself constantly working on — striving toward simpler, more intentional living.
What about you? Feel free to share your tips for simple living in the comments below, or even tell us why paring down just isn’t something that interests you!
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